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Cyanobacteria are a very large and diverse phylum of photosynthetic prokaryotes. [19] They are defined by their unique combination of pigments and their ability to perform oxygenic photosynthesis. They often live in colonial aggregates that can take on a multitude of forms. [20]
Cyanobacteria are a large and diverse phylum of bacteria defined by their unique combination of pigments and their ability to perform oxygenic photosynthesis. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Cyanobacteria often live in colonial aggregates that can take a multitude of forms. [ 3 ]
Nostoc, also known as star jelly, troll's butter, spit of moon, fallen star, witch's butter (not to be confused with the fungi commonly known as witches' butter), and witch's jelly, is the most common genus of cyanobacteria found in a variety of both aquatic and terrestrial environments that may form colonies composed of filaments of moniliform cells in a gelatinous sheath of polysaccharides. [1]
Marine cyanobacteria are to date the smallest known photosynthetic organisms; Prochlorococcus is the smallest at just 0.5 to 0.7 micrometres in diameter. [11] [2] The coccoid shaped cells are non-motile and free-living. Their small size and large surface-area-to-volume ratio, gives them an advantage in nutrient-poor water.
Microcystis aeruginosa is a species of freshwater cyanobacteria that can form harmful algal blooms of economic and ecological importance. They are the most common toxic cyanobacterial bloom in eutrophic fresh water. Cyanobacteria produce neurotoxins and peptide hepatotoxins, such as microcystin and cyanopeptolin. [1]
Cyanobacteria were the first organisms to achieve photosynthesis. [4] Chlorophyll and phycocyanine—two pigments contained in cyanobacteria—allow the vegetative cells to absorb light and transform it into nutrients. [4] The genus Aphanizomenon is defined as a cluster of eight morphospecies, including Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. [5]
Gloeotrichia is a large (~2 mm) colonial genus of Cyanobacteria, belonging to the order Nostocales. [2] The name Gloeotrichia is derived from the appearance of the filamentous body with prominent mucilage matrix. Found in lakes across the globe, gloeotrichia are notable for the important roles that they play in the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles.
Oscillatoria is a genus of filamentous cyanobacteria. It is often found in freshwater environments. [1] Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other to position the colony to face a light source. [2] Oscillatoria uses photosynthesis to survive and reproduce.